Parallelogram Articulated Lattice Mast for Passive (Self) Deployment

Abstract

A self-deployable mast, typically for supporting a payload. The mast has top longerons, bottom longerons, and hinge linkages that form a series of moveable parallelograms operable to fold and unfold. The mast further has springs and trusses, with at least one spring and one truss associated with each of the parallelograms. The springs are operable to deploy the mast from a folded position to a deployed position. Each truss is operable to become in tension diagonally across its associated parallelogram once the mast is deployed into a final position. In other embodiments, motors may be used instead of springs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A passively deployable mast, comprising:
 a series of bottom longerons;   a series of top longerons;   hinge linkages operable to attach the bottom longerons to the top longerons of adjacent sections, such that pairs of bottom longerons and top longerons form a series of parallelogram sections operable to fold and unfold in an accordion-like manner;   at least one spring associated with each parallelogram section;   at least one diagonal associated with each parallelogram section;   wherein the springs are operable to deploy the mast from a folded position to a deployed position; and   wherein each diagonal is operable to become in tension diagonally across its associated parallelogram section by the action of the springs when the mast is deployed into a final deployed position.   
     
     
         2 . The mast of  claim 1 , wherein the springs are battens that may be placed in a loaded state by being buckled. 
     
     
         3 . The mast of  claim 1 , wherein the springs are torsion springs, torsion rods, or compression springs. 
     
     
         4 . The mast of  claim 1 , wherein the diagonals are implemented with flexible wire, cable, cord, or rod. 
     
     
         6 . The mast of  claim 1 , wherein the longerons of each section have a first side and a second side and at least one spring and one diagonal on each side. 
     
     
         7 . The mast of  claim 1 , wherein each hinge linkage comprises a first hinge connecting two adjacent longerons, a second hinge connecting the other two adjacent longerons, and a pair of linkage arms, and wherein the second hinge is an offset hinge. 
     
     
         8 . A method of deploying a mast, comprising:
 providing a folded mast comprising:   a series of bottom longerons;   a series of top longerons;   hinge linkages operable to attach the bottom longerons to the top longerons of adjacent sections, such that pairs of bottom longerons and top longerons form a series of parallelogram sections operable to fold and unfold in an accordion-like manner;   at least one spring associated with each parallelogram section;   at least one diagonal associated with each parallelogram section;   wherein the springs are operable to deploy the mast from a folded position to a deployed position; and   wherein each diagonal is operable to become in tension diagonally across its associated parallelogram section by the action of the springs when the mast is deployed into a final deployed position; and   actuating the mast such that the springs are operable to deploy the mast from a folded position to a deployed position, and such that each diagonal is operable to become in tension diagonally across its associated parallelogram by the action of the springs when the mast is deployed into a final position.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising damping the actuating step. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the springs are battens that may be placed in a loaded state by being buckled. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the springs are torsion springs, torsion rods, or compression springs. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the diagonals are implemented with flexible wire, cable, cord, or rod. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein each of the pairs of bottom longerons and top longerons have a first side and a second side and at least one spring and one truss on each side. 
     
     
         14 . A motor-deployable mast, comprising:
 a series of bottom longerons;   a series of top longerons;   hinge linkages operable to attach the bottom longerons to the top longerons of adjacent sections, such that pairs of bottom longerons and top longerons form a series of parallelogram sections operable to fold and unfold in an accordion-like manner;   a number of motors operable to provide torque to the hinge linkages, with at least one motor associated with every two or more parallelogram sections;   at least one diagonal associated with each parallelogram section;   wherein the motors are operable to deploy the mast from a folded position to a deployed position; and   wherein each diagonal is operable to become in tension diagonally across its associated parallelogram section by the action of the springs when the mast is deployed into a final deployed position.   
     
     
         15 . The mast of  claim 14 , wherein the diagonals are implemented with flexible wire, cable, cord, or rod. 
     
     
         16 . The mast of  claim 14 , wherein the longerons of each section have a first side and a second side and at least one spring and one diagonal on each side. 
     
     
         17 . The mast of  claim 14 , wherein each hinge linkage comprises a first hinge connecting two adjacent longerons, a second hinge connecting the other two adjacent longerons, and a pair of linkage arms, and wherein the second hinge is an offset hinge.